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WASHINGTON — The Senate has approved President Barack Obama’s choice to be the top commander in
Afghanistan.

By voice vote yesterday, lawmakers cleared the way for Gen. Joseph Dunford, the assistant
commandant of the Marine Corps, to take over as head of U.S. and coalition forces in
Afghanistan.

Dunford will replace Gen. John Allen, the current commander, who has been nominated to take
charge in Europe. Allen’s nomination is on hold as he’s ensnared in the sex scandal that led to the
resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus.

Dunford takes charge at a critical time for Obama and the military as they decide in the coming
weeks the pace of drawing down the 66,000 U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan. Dunford has directed
combat forces in Iraq.